Tire-chain connector



E. E. GRIMES. TIRE CHAIN CONNECTOR. APPLICATION FILED MAR 30. 1921.

Eatented. Apr. 18, 1922.

314mm ElygeneE Grimes;

oNrrEo STATES PATENT operas. I

EUGENE E. GRIMES, or 'rirrr'n, OHIO.

TIRECHAIN CONNECTOR.

T allwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EUGENE a citizen of the United States, residing at Tiffin, in the county of Seneca and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tire-Chain Connectors, of

E. GRIMES,

I which the following is a specification.

4 This invention relates to connectors for 1 chains and the primary object of the inven- "and a locking by hand.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel means for operatively connecting the operating lever of the connector with the body portion thereof, so as to permit th lever to facilitate in bringing the terminals of the chain together, and a novel means for engaging said' lever to prevent accidental actuation thereof.

A further object of the invention is' to provide a chain connector embodying a body lever, the body forming a novelgguard for the locking lever, so as to prevent foreign objects from coming in contact therewith and operating said lever.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved chain connector of the above character, which is durable and efiicient in use, one that is simple and 'easy to manufacture, and one which can be placed be hereinafter more speci the improved 0 -mitting the connection or upon the market at a reasonable cost.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and formation of parts, as will fically described, claimed and illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, forming a part tion, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved chain connector showing the same connecting the opposite ends of a non-skid chain for automobile tires.

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the operatinglever in its open position for perdisconnection of the chain terminals.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section through hain connector showing t e lever in its locked or operative position;

Specification of Letters Patent.

the chain terminals together by means of the connector portion adjacent to one of this specifica-- 21 for the reception of the pivot pm Patented Apr. 18, 1922.

Application filed March 30, 1921. fierial No. 456,953.

Figure 4 is a similar view showing the lever 1n its open or inoperative position.

Figure 5 is an edge view of the improved chain connector with the lever in its open or,

inoperative position. I

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter A indicates the improved chain connector; B a non-skid chain; and C, a tire with which it is associated.

It is to be understood that the tire chain B and the tire C form no part of the present invention, but have merely been shown for illustrating the use of the improved device.

The tire chain B as shown, is of the ordinary or any preferred construction, clu des the side chains 10 and'the transverse connecting chains 11. The terminals of the side chains 10 are adapted to be conngkcte as will be hereinafter more fully described.

The improved chain connector A includes the body portion D and the locking lever The body D includes scales 12 and 13 and these ed together and held in means of the spring 14;. The side plates or scales 12 and 13 are constructed identically the same,'and one of the longitudinal edges of their ends is provided with inwardly extending recesses 15, which define the hookshaped members 16, which act as a means for retaining one of the chain terminals in position as-will be here inafter more fully described. Adjacent to the opposite ends of the side plates of the scales 12 and 13, the mentloned longitudinal edges are provided with inwardly extending notches 17, which form meansfor facilitating the operation of the lever E which also will be hereinafter more fully described.

The spring 14 includes a base 18, and forwardly extending resilient portion 19. The base portion 18 is secured to the plates the side pieces or pieces are connectby means of suitable rivets or the like 20,

while the opposite resilient portion is left free and isadapted to engage the lever E for holding the same in its inoperative or operative positions- The base 18 of the spring 14 land the side plates or scales 12 and 13 are provided with aligned open1n2gs which is adapted to receive the shackle 23 and inspaced relation by when the lever edges of the side for engaging one of the links of one of the chain terminals. The base 18 ofthe spring 14 has the inner edge thereof provided with an inclined seat 31 against which is adapted to rest the inner surface of the free end of the lever E. I This prevents inward move-v ment of the lever beyond acertain point.

The lever E includes a body 24, which is gradually tapered toward one end to facilitate the insertion of the lever through the end link of the free terminal of the tire chain B. The relatively broad end of the lever E is provided with a tang 25 which is arranged between the side plates or scales 12 and 13 and connected thereto by means of a pivot pin 26. The inner longitudinal edge of the body 24 of the lever E is provided with an inwardly extending offset notch 27 which is adapted to receive the end of the chain link of the free terminal of the tire chain; so as to facilitate the positioning of the link in the notches 11% and it can be seen that tion, the notch 27 is in direct alignment with the notches 15 formed in the side plates or scale. The inner longitudinal edge of the l ody 24 of the lever E is also provided with an inwardly extending notch28, which is adapted to extend in direct alignmentwith the notches 17 formed in inner longitudinal plates 12 and 13 when the lever is in its operative position. These notches form a convenient means for permitting the operation of the lever to move the same to its inoperative position, and if so desired, a suitable tool, such as a screw driver or the like can be inserted in said notches for facilitating the swinging of said lever. is provided with a relatively long base 29 wh ch is adapted to be engaged by the free end of the spring 14, when the lever is in its operatlve position. This absolutely precludes the accidental operation of the lever.

When the lever is 1n its open position,-

the spring engages the opposite face of the tang and holds the same at an angle of substantially 135 which facilitates the positioning of the lever through the end link of the skid chain terminal.

In use of the improved connector, the shackle 23 is connected to the end link of one of the terminals of the chain, and the lever E is moved to the position shown in Figures 2 and 4 and is then inserted through the end link of the free chain terminal. The link 1s moved until the same rests in the notch 27, at which time the lever is moved to its closed position. Owing to the outer lnclined face 30 of the hook 165, the link of the chain can be readily moved into the notch 15 below the bill of the hook 16 and when the lever is moved'to its fully closed position, the walls of the notch 27 therein will overlie the lower wall of the notches 1.5,.-

is in its operative posi-' It can be seen that the tang 25 means While the inner walls of the notches will be in direct alignment. The end link of the chain will engage the end walls of the notches 15an'd 27, which will have a tendency to hold the lever in its normal position against accidental movement, and it can be seen that the tighter the'pull on the same, the more the lever C will have a tendency to remain in its operative position. The resllient portion 19 of the spring 14 also holds the lever" in its operative position against accidental displacement, and it can be seen that when a slack occurs in the skid chain. through any cause at the connector A, the lever E will be prevented from swinging on its pivot 26 owing to this spring.

From the foregoing description, it can be seen that an improved chain connector hasbeen provided, of novel construction, which will effectively prevent the accidental d splacement ofv the terminals of-the skld chain, and which will permit the easy connection and disconnection of theterminals of the bar A." I

Changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention; but,

I claim: I

1. A skid chain connector compr sing a pair or spaced side plates having cham link receiving notches formed therein, a lever pivotally secured between said plates having a chain link receiving notch formed therein,

the lever being adapted to move the chain link into the notches formed in the side plates, and means connecting the side plates together and arranged to normally hold the lever in its operative and inoperative position.

2. A'skid chain connector comprisin a pair of spaced side plates having chain l1nk receiving notches formed therein, a lever pivotally secured to and between said s de plates,-the lever-having a cham l1nk recelving notch formed therein arranged to be moved into alignment with the notches formed in the side plates, and a leaf sprlng carried by the side plates and arranged to engage the lever to hold the same agalnst accidental operation.

3. A connector for skid chains comprising a pair of side plates having one of their longitudinal edges provided with inwardly extending ofi'set chain link receiving notches,

toward its free end to facilitate the insertion thereof in a chain link, and resilient engaging the levers for holding the lever against accidental movement when in its operative and inoperative position.

4. A connector for the terminals of tire skid chains comprising a pair of side plates,

ing the base to and between said plates for holding the plates in spaced relation, a lever pivotally secured to and between the plates, and at one end thereof in spaced relation-to the base portion of the spring, thefree end of the spring being adapted to engage the lever, the lever and plates. having aligned tire chain link receiving notches formed therein. n

5. A connector for the terminals of skid chains comprising side plates having tire chain recelving notches formed therein, a,

lever pivotally ecured atone end to one end of said side plates, the lever having an inwardly extending 'oflset notch formed in.

its inner edge arranged to be in alignment with the notches formedin said side plates when the lever is in its operative position, the inner'longitudinal edges of said side plates being curvedarcuately forwardly, of

said notches forming a guide surface leading to said notches, the inner edges of the side plates and lever having tool notches formed therein. r

6. A. connector of the character specified comprising spaceol plates provided at one end with corresponding notches, a spring secured between corresponding edge portions of the plate and serving to maintain the same'in spaced relation, and alock pivoted receiving between theplates and closing the outer ends of the said notches formed therein and normally held in closed position by the'action of the said spring.

7. A connector of the character specified comprising companion spaced plates having corresponding notches in one end thereof, a flat spring secured between the corresponding edge portions of the plates and a lock arranged between the opposite edge portions of the plates and pivoted atone end thereto and closing the outer ends of said notches formed therein, said plates being held in closed position by the spring.

- EUGENE E. GRIMES. 

